Skill mix

Nursing skill mix is the subject of much controversy as the need for economy is balanced against the need for quality. As stated above the fixed nursing will usually be of higher grade since the role incorporates the administration of the unit and supervisory nursing. The bedside nurses will be made up of those who have received post-qualification training in intensive care and those who have not. The ratio of trained to untrained intensive care nurses should be of the order of 3:1 to facilitate in-service teaching.